Find Your Purpose

It’s one of my favourite coaching sessions to have with a client: What would you be if you could be anything? It usually takes a while for them to get going, and I’m often met with all the things they could be on a practical level. These are great answers – if they were true. Unfortunately, society has made us believe that there are certain boxes that we all have to fit into, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. What if the one thing that you are meant to be at a soul level, hasn’t even been thought of yet?

Waking Up to Joy

For hundreds of years, scientists from all over the world have been studying the secrets to living a long, healthy and fulfilling life. While many discoveries have been made, and some disproven of course, Ikigai is one example of an incredible finding which was made as a result of this research.

Ikigai is an Okinawan term which loosely translates to “a reason for being”. It refers to the meeting point between what you love to do, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what someone is willing to pay you for. Ikigai (ee-key-guy) is a Japanese concept that combines the terms iki, meaning “alive” or “life,” and gai, meaning “benefit” or “worth.” Okinawans are some of the world’s longest-living populations and Ikigai, in part, has been found to be a contributing factor.

The concept of ikigai is said to have evolved from the basic health and wellness principles of traditional Japanese medicine. This medical tradition states that a person’s physical health is directly affected by their mental wellbeing, their emotional health and their sense of purpose in life.

Ken Mogi, a neuroscientist and the author of Awakening Your Ikigai, says that ikigai is an ancient and familiar concept for the Japanese, which can be translated simply as “a reason to get up in the morning” or more poetically, “waking up to joy.”

Let me ask you this: Do you wake up to joy every morning? Or is your reason to get up in the morning one that you meet with contempt? If you spend a third of your life sleeping, and a third of your life working, don’t you think that you should be doing something that you enjoy? Something that gives you joy? ??

You Are Limitless

The concept of ikigai is captured by the well-known ikigai diagram. This diagram includes overlapping spheres covering:

·???????? What you love

·???????? What you’re good at

·???????? What the world needs

·???????? What you can get paid for

Analysing your answers to each of these questions can be difficult at first. So, consciously change your mindset – grab a pen and your journal and write down this statement: I AM LIMITLESS. Every time you stop your mind from reaching too far, read this sentence to yourself aloud – as many times as you need to.

I AM LIMITLESS

I AM LIMITLESS

I AM LIMITLESS

I AM LIMITLESS

I AM LIMITLESS

Now, start to write down answers to these questions. Remember, every time you think you are being ridiculous, and you hear that negative inner voice saying to you that you can’t possibly achieve that, say your I AM LIMITLESS statement aloud. Hush your harshest critic – your fear!

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1.?????? What do you love?

What do you do or experience that brings you the most joy in life and makes you feel the most alive and fulfilled? This could be anything! Sailing, writing poetry, rock climbing, singing in a band, playing an instrument, drawing figurines, reading historical novels, spending leisure time with friends, etc. What’s important is that you allow yourself to think deeply about what you love, without any concern for whether you’re good at it, whether the world needs it, or if you can get paid for doing it.

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2.?????? What are you amazing at?

Don’t hold back here. What are you particularly good at? What skills have you learned, hobbies have you pursued, talents that you’ve shown since an early age? What you are good at might be, for example, playing the piano, horse riding, dancing, being empathic, public speaking, swimming, lifesaving, brain surgery, or painting portraits. What are your talents or capabilities, whether or not you are passionate about them, whether the world needs them, or if you can get paid for them?

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3.?????? What does the world need?

The “world” can mean humanity as a whole, a small community you are in touch with, or anything in between. What the world needs might be based on your impressions, or the needs expressed by others. These could be skilled nursing, art, entertainment, clean water, home heating, inspiration, comfort during death and dying, election day volunteers, or improved police training. What can you do that connects most explicitly with other people and does good for them, beyond your own needs?

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4.?????? What can you get paid for?

This refers to what someone else is willing to pay you for. Think about your answers to questions one, two and three, and consider whether you can get paid for your passions or talents. Who would want to use your services or buy your products? What promise can you make to the world, that you can deliver on, and that someone is willing to pay you for? ?

You can do this exercise as many times as you wish, until you get clear on the answers to the questions above. You might want to ask those close to you what they think your talents are. Be specific when you ask for their opinion – only positive answers regarding talent are welcome!

Recently I had a conversation with my husband that uncovered a talent of mine of which I was completely unaware. Sometimes we have blind spots when it comes to our natural abilities, and we incorrectly believe that everyone must be able to do x, y or z, because it comes so naturally to us. That’s why asking someone close to you to help you identify things in which you are naturally talented is such a powerful exercise. It could very well be a life changing conversation.?

The Sweet Spot

The sweet spot within the ikigai diagram would include something you are passionate about, that you are also good at, that the world needs now, and for which someone will pay you. For example, if you are passionate about music, and you are also skilled at playing the violin, there is a need for beauty and entertainment in the world, and someone is willing to pay you for your passion and your skill, then you have found your ikigai sweet spot. You have found your purpose.

Small Actionable Wins

1.??????Find a real-life inspiration

Identify someone that is living their life in alignment with their purpose. Their purpose may be similar to yours. For example, if your purpose is to be a dance teacher, and they are a professional ballerina. Their purpose can also not be similar to yours, but their drive and determination to live a purpose-driven life aligned with their soul inspires you. Now, learn about them and let their story motivate you to do the same. Let their life be a true example of what is possible.

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2.?????? Schedule one hour a week to your purpose

Often as we go through life, we lose sight of our dreams, ambitions and purpose. Hobbies and passions that we once held dear are pushed aside to make space for practicality, bills and responsibilities. Making the decision to take a small (even tiny) step in the direction of living your purpose is hugely beneficial. You don’t have to resign from your traditional job today. You can take one small step towards your passion by reintroducing it into your life. Love painting but haven’t painted in years? Schedule one hour a week to paint. Join an art class. Buy the brushes, source the right canvas, find the colours that bring your heart to a flutter. Commit to one hour a week and keep that promise to your nine your old self. Infuse yourself with your tribe, it might just open some doors for you to walk through.

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3.?????? Identify and replace one time waster

Remove one small insignificant thing in your life that goes against your purpose. Find a time waster and remove it from your life to make room for your journey towards your purpose. For example, do you find yourself scrolling through social media or watching mind-numbing television? Stop living through other people and live your own life! As soon as you find yourself scrolling or aimlessly clicking the TV remote, stop and consciously fill that time with journaling, reading, meditating or manifesting around your purpose. Do you sleep in some mornings? Recommit that time to practicing your skill. You may not feel like it at the time, but every minute wasted adds up to a lifetime of unfulfillment and disappointment. Find your time waster and consciously let it go.??? ???

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